Bones and Joints

The foot bone is connected to the leg bone, the leg bone is connected to the knee bone, the knee bones connected to the . . .

Do you remember that song that taught us about the bones in our body?  It’s most remembered by the older folks but it was a fun song.  It didn’t talk about the 206 bones in our body but it got us thinking.

Your bones are an important part of your body and we know we have to be careful of osteoporosis, both men and women.  Calcium and physical activity are key along with watching tobacco and alcohol use.

Your joints are also important though and until you have a problem with one, it’s possible that you don’t think about them too much.  They connect your bones and help to protect a lot of structures in your body.

What do we need to do to keep our joints healthy?

Healthy joints need the right foods and exercise like your bones.  In addition, you need to watch your weight as too much weight puts extra pressure on your joints.

Your diet can help both your bones and your joints and truthfully many other areas of your body.  Good items to choose include:

Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. Think salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, white fish and even European anchovies.

Vegetables that include cruciferous vegetables like arugula, broccoli, bok choy, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower to name a few. 

Turmeric, used in many curry dishes.  It’s best absorbed by the body when in food.

Yogurt, best are the unsweetened and plain yogurts with live and active yogurt cultures so check your labels.

Ginger, add ginger to foods for best absorption and good anti-inflammatory agents.

Green tea, get a good quality tea that is either organic or loose leaf that you make yourself.

Private Home Health Care tries to take care of our bones and our joints.  As we age it gets harder but adding some of the foods and exercises above can help.